Positioning systems and methods for portable devices

Abstract

Positioning systems and methods for portable devices. The system comprises a plurality of access points, at least one portable device, and a service provider. Each access point has identification and set at a location. The portable device has identification, and wirelessly couples to a network provided by the service provider via one of the access points. The service provider has a database comprising access point information and at least one access record. The access point information records the identification and locations corresponding to respective access points. The access record records at least the identification of the portable device and the identification of the access point coupled thereto. The service provider determines the location information of the portable device according to the access point information and the access record.

1 . A positioning system for portable devices, comprising: 
 a plurality of access points, each comprising identification and being set at a location;    at least one portable device, comprising identification, and wirelessly couples to a network via one of the access points; and    a service provider coupled to the access points, providing the network, comprising a database comprising access point information and at least one access record, in which the access point information records the identification and locations corresponding to respective access points, and the access record records at least the identification of the portable device and the identification of the access point coupled thereto,    wherein the service provider determines the location information of the portable device according to the access point information and the access record.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the access record further records an access time.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the service provider further determines the location information of the portable device at the access time according to the access point information and the access record.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein respective access points further update corresponding identification and locations to the service provider.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the access record is generated when the portable device couples to the network provided by the service provider via the access points.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the database further comprises user information corresponding to the identification of the portable device.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the service provider further receives specific user information, and retrieves the corresponding location information according to the identification of the portable device corresponding to the specific user information, the access record and the access point information.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the portable device comprises a computer system, a PDA, or a mobile phone.  
   
   
       9 . A positioning system for portable devices, comprising: 
 a service provider comprising a database, comprising: 
 access point information recording identifications and locations corresponding to a plurality of access points; and  
 a plurality of access records, each recording at least identification of one portable device and the identification of one of the access points, in which the access records are generated when the portable devices couple to a network provided by the service provider via the access points,  
   wherein if a location query for a specific portable device is received, the service provider retrieves at least one of the access records comprising identification of the specific portable device, retrieves the identification of a specific access point from the access record, retrieves a location corresponding to the specific access point from the access point information according to the identification of the specific access point, such that the location information of the specific portable device is determined accordingly.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein respective access records further record an access time.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the service provider further retrieves at least one of the access records comprising the identification of the specific portable device and the access time conforming to a time condition, retrieves the identification of a specific access point from the access record, retrieves a location corresponding to the specific access point from the access point information according to the identification of the specific access point, such that the location information of the specific portable device at the time condition is determined accordingly.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9  wherein respective access points further update corresponding identification and locations to the service provider.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the database further comprises user information corresponding to the identification of the portable device.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the service provider further receives specific user information, and retrieves the corresponding location information according to the identification of the portable device corresponding to the specific user information, the access record and the access point information.  
   
   
       15 . A positioning method for portable devices, comprising: 
 receiving a location query for a specific portable device;    retrieving at least one access record comprising identification of the specific portable device, in which the access record is generated when the portable device wirelessly couples to a network via at least one access point, and the access record records at least the identification of the portable device and the identification of the access point;    retrieving the identification of a specific access point from the access record; and    retrieving a location corresponding to the specific access point from access point information according to the identification of the specific access point, such that the location information of the specific portable device is determined accordingly, in which the access point information records the identification and location corresponding to the access point.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein respective access records further record an access time.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 retrieving at least one of the access records comprising the identification of the specific portable device and the access time conforming to a time condition;    retrieving the identification of a specific access point from the access record; and    retrieving a location corresponding to the specific access point from the access point information according to the identification of the specific access point, such that the location information of the specific portable device at the time condition is determined accordingly.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising respective access points updating the access point information using the corresponding identification and locations.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the database further comprises user information corresponding to the identification of the portable device.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising: 
 receiving specific user information; and    retrieving the corresponding location information according to the identification of the portable device corresponding to the specific user information, the access record and the access point information.